Hose coupling assembling machine



Nov. 8, 1932. J. R. HEIDLOFF HOSE COUPLING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed May 4. 1929 if I s ENI! If is gllfn.

Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED VSTATE s PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH R. HEIDLOFF, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 HYDRAULIC BRAKE COMPANY. OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF' CALIFORNIA HOSE COUPLING- 'AASSEMBLING MACHINE Application med my 4, 182e. serial No. 380,880.

This invention relates to hose coupling assembling apparatus and will be described with particular reference to an apparatus for assembling end connectors or couplings for high pressure hose.'

The couplings used in high pressure hose such as used in hydraulic brake systems must be firmly and securely attached to the hose in order to prevent the high pressures in the hose from separating the coupling from the hose. These couplings usually consist of y a threaded sleeve surrounding the hose having a somewhat smaller bore than the outer diameter of the hose and a thimble within the end ofthe bore of thehose for compressing the hose against the outer sleeve. In order to obtain the best results the sleeve and thimble are preferably interlocked to prevent relative movement ofthese parts.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for assembling a coupling on the end of a'hose.

A further object is to provide an apparatus for securely attaching a coupling to a substantially non-expansible hose.

A further object is to provide an apparatus for forming an interlocking connection between a-hose and a coupling member.

A further object is to provide an apparatus for assembling a sleeve and thimble on a hose and interlocking the thimble and sleeve.

A further object is to provide an apparatus for sequentially inserting a thimble in a hose, expanding the thimble and interlocking the thimble and sleeve. .l

, Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus embodying the invention showing the apparatus at the beginning of the assembling operation; and

.Flgz 2 1s asimilar view showing the apparipsg/ tus at the completion of the assemblingeope'ra-.f`

The apparatusis illustrated in connection with. the assembling of a particular type of coupling or end connection for a hose although it will be apparent thatthe apparatus may be readily adaptedto assemble other types of hose connections. A hose 11 is shown -of the high pressure type such as used in 'of the sleeve adjacent hydraulic brake systems and has a sleeve 12 placed over the end thereof. The sleeve comprises a cylindrical portion provided with threads 13 for connecting the sleeve to aV companion member of a motor vehicle or the, like. The lower end 14 of the sleeve 12 is iiared radially. outwardly and is preferably provided with a hexagonal periphery to facilitate threading the sleeve into another member.

The sleeve is provided with an internal bore of a slightly smaller diameter than the hose to cause a slight compression of the hose whenthe hose is inserted `-1n the sleeve so that upon the subsequent expansion of the hose by a thimble 15 which is inserted therein the hose will not be expanded beyond the mean diameter of the hose.

4The interior of the sleeve is provided with a portion 16 of a smaller diameter than the remaining portion of the sleeve, thereby providing an enlarged portion adjacent the end l of the vhose which is'compressed to a lesser degree than the intermediate portion, resulting in a strong interlocking connection between the hose andthe sleeve. The end' of the sleeve is provided withanaxially extending fiange 1 formed by enlarging the bore the end.

The thimble 15 which is adapted to be insu serted inthe hose and expanded therein and interlocked with the sleeve comprises-.a cylindrical portion 18 having a disc 19 integral with the end thereof. The periphery of the disc-shaped portion 19 is slightly -bevelled so 85 that when seated u on the shoulder within. the sleeve, Hangs 1 of the sleeve maybe crimped inwardly to form an interlock between the sleeveand the thimble. I

In assembling the coupling upon the end of a hose, the .hose/is first manually inserted withinhthe'sleeve and the end `of the thimble is placed within/ the bore of the hose. The sleeve and hose are then placed upon an anvil 21 having a -slot 22 therein permitting the "1 hose to be laterally inserted within the slot in such a position that the h ad of the sleeve will rest upon the anvil. l

The appara-tus for assembling the coupling comprises a press head 23 carrying a plunger 106 block and the sleeve.

24. The lower end of the plunger 25 is coneshaped and serves to expand the cylindrical portion 18 of the thimble to compress the hose against the'inner wall of the sleeve.

Rearwardly of the cone-shaped portion the head of thev plunger is provided with a short cylindrical portion 26. The plunger 24 has a tapering portion 27 which terminates vin a cylindrical portion 28 of slightly greater diameter than the head of the plunger for a purpose to be described later.

Intermediate the cylindrical portions 26 and 28 the plunger-is of a reduced diameter to avoid unnecessary friction in the expansion of the thimble. Surrounding the plunger 24 is a reciprocable block or piston 31 which is urged downwardly by a spring 32 resting atits upper end against the head 23 of the press. Surrounding the block 31 is a cylinder or sleeve 33. The block 31 is provided wth a shoulder 34 and the Vsleeve is lprovided with a cooperating shoulder 35 for limiting the relative movement between the The lower end of with a bevelled inner periphery -20 for crimping the flange 17 against the bevelled edgeof the thimble when the head' 23 of lthe press end of the sleeve. I

When the hose and sleeve have been placed upon the anvil as described above and the thimble 15 has been started into the hose the press head is moved downwardly, forcing the thimble into the lhose and causing the parts to assume the position shown in Fig. 1.

Upon a further downward movement of the press head spring 32 acting through block 31 willcause the disc 19 of the thimble to be seated within the flange 17 of the sleeve. still further downward movement of the press head will cause the head or plunger 25 to enter the bore of the thimble and expand the thimble to compress the hose against the inner wall of the sleeve as shown in Fig. 2. Just as the headof the plunger has passed throu h'the entire thimble and expanded it, the en arged portion 28 of the plunger enters the upper endof the thimble to enlarge this portion so as to permit of the'plunger head. f n When the plunger head has passed through the thimble and the enlarged portion 28 of the plunger is within the end of the timble the press head 23 strikes the upper end of sleeve 33 and causes the bevelled inner periphery of the lower end of the sleeve to crimp the flange 17 inwardly to securely interlock the sleeve with the thimble, as shown in 2, completing the assembling operation. It will be noted that at this time spring 32 is considerably compressed so that upon'the raising of the press head 23 and the .withdrawal of the plunger from the coupling the spring will exert suiiicient pressure upon the ready removal '"'block 31 to retain the coupling upon the anvil tion are claimed in my the sleeve is provided extending through and allow the plunger to be withdrawn from the completed coupling. The novel features` of the hose coupling shown in this applicadivisional application, Serial No. 619,368, filed June 27, 1932.

While the apparatus has been described in connection with the assembling of a particular type of coupling member, it will be ap'- parent to those skilled in the art that the device may be modified to assemble other types of couplings without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

ll. In an apparatus for attaching a coupling member consisting of a sleeve and thimble to a hose comprising means for inserting the thimble in the hose and abutting the thimble against the sleeve, means for expanding the thimble toengage the hose with the sleeve, and means for interlocking the sleeve and thimble.

2. An apparatus member to a means havin ble in the sieve upon initial movement o said means and a member for expandintg the thimble upon further movement thereo 3. An apparatus for attaching a coupling member consisting of a thimble and sleeve to a hose comprising means for inserting the thimble in the hose, means for expanding the thimble and compressing the hose against the sleeve, means for interlockin the thimble with the sleeve, and means contraction of the thimble during the interlocking operation. y

4. In an apparatus for attaching a lsleeve for attaching a coupling hose comprising reciprocable A and.thimble to a hose vto form a coupling,

for expanding the thimble4 to compress 105 means the hose against the sleeve, and means for 1nterconnecting the thimble with the sleeve to prevent relative movement thereof.

5. An apparatus for attaching a sleeve and thimble to a hose prising a cylinder, a piston within the cylinderand having a cylindrical bore, a. plunger said cylindrical bore, a

spring engaging he piston and having its a member for inserting a thim- 1 or preventing to form a coupling,I comother end movable with the plunger, means 115 for moving the lunger toward the thimble thereby causingt episton to insert the thimble in the hose, the, rther movement of the plunger expanding the thimble, and means for actuating the cylinder upon a predeter- 12( mined movementof the plunger whereby the thimble and sleeve are in'terlocked.l

6. An apparatus for attaching a coupling consisting of aI sleeve and thimble to a hose\ comprising panding the thimble and n a cylinder for crimping the end of the sleeve to interlock the sleeve and thimble.

7. An apparatus for a reciprocable member for insert- 121 ing the thimble in the hose, a plunger for exattaching a coupling 13 consisting of a sleeve and thimble to a hose'- comprising means for inserting the thimble in the hose, means for' expanding the thimble, means for interlocking the sleeve and thimble, and means actuating the aforesaid means in sequence.

8. An apparatus for attaching a coupling consisting of a sleeve and thimble to a hose comprising a plunger for expanding the thimble, said plunger having a head and an enlarged portion spaced from the head, a cylin.- der for exerting an inward radial pressure pn the sleeve to interlock the sleeve and thimble, and means causing said cylinder to become eiec'tive after the enlarged portion of the plunger is inserted in the thimble.A

9. vAn` apparatus for attaching a coupling consisting of a sleeve and thimble to a hose comprising a plunger 'for expanding the thimble within the hose, and a cylinder having a bevelled inner periphery for crimping the end of the sleeve over the thimble.

10. #An apparatus for attaching a. coupling sleeve to a hose comprising reciprocal means having a'member `for inserting a'thimble in the hose upon initial movement of said means, a member for expanding lthe thimble upon further movement thereof and compressing the hose against the sleeve, and means formed in the sleeve for interlocking said sleeve and `s aid hose upon the compression of saidihose. p 11. An apparatus for attaching a coupling sleeve to -a hose comprisingreciprocal means having' a member for inserting a thimblein the hose uponinitial movement ofy said means, a member for expanding the thimble upon further movement thereof and compressing the -hose against the sleeve, mieans formed in the sleeve for interlocking said sleeve and said hose upon the compression of said hose, and

means for interlocking said sleeve'and said thimble.

throughout its entire length for expanding the thimble to two diameters.

15. An apparatus for attaching a couphng consisting of a sleeve and thimble toa hose comprising a reciprocable member for inserting the thimble in the hose and a plunger having a smaller end'portion and relatively larger upper shank portion directly engageable wlth theA thimble for expanding the thimble to Atwo diameters. Y l

16. An apparatus for attaching a coupling consisting of a sleeve and thimble to a hose comprising a reciprocable memberfor inserting the thimble in the hose and a two-diameter plunger directly engageable with the thimble for expanding the thimble to a relatively greater diameter at its outer end than the internal portion thereof.

17. An apparatus for attaching a coupling i to a hose comprising means for inserting athimble in the hose and means for subsequently expanding the thimble to a relatively greater extent near its outer end than at its internal portion comprising a reciprocable member directly engageable With the thimble.

'18. An apparatus forattaching a coupling consisting of a two-diameter sleeve and a thimble to a hose com rising means for inserting the thimble in t e hose and a plunger having a preliminary expansion portion of .one diameter and another portion of larger .diameter directly engageable 'with the thimble for additionally expanding it, for expandingthe thimble to two diameters and interlocking the sleeve and thimble.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of April, 1929.

" JOSEPH R. HEIDLOFF.

12. A n apparatus for .attaching a coupling sleeve to a hose comprising reciprocal means having a member for inserting a thimble in the hose upon initial movement of said means, a member for expanding the thimble upon further movement thereof and compressing the hose against the sleeve, and an annular restricted portion in the bore of the sleeve formingmeans for interlocking the hose and the sleeve upon the expansion ofs'aid thimble.

13; An apparatus for attaching a coupling consisting of a sleeve and thimbleto va hose comprising a reciprocable member for insert-,

ing the thimble in the hose and a tWo-diame-' ter plunger of larger diameter than thethim-lble for expanding the thimble, throughout its entire length.

14: An apparatus for attaching a coupling consisting of a sleeve and thimble to a hosecomprising areciprocable memberfor inserting the thimblein the .hose and a single plunger directly engageable with the thimble los lll 

